Reloading

[Shabbyshot]

I notice a few people on here reload shotgun carts and more of you reload rifle cases. I own a shotgun and find as long as you don't want the top makes they are fairly cheap to buy. However I don't own a rifle so have no idea what they cost.

 

So is it just due to cost of ammo or do you find other benefits from reloading?

 

Sorry if this is a stupid question but I have no idea about reloading.

 

SS

[The Burpster]

For rifles there are 3 reasons.....

 

1. Accuracy

 

2. Accuracy

 

3. Accuracy.

 

 

I can and will over a number of years work out cheaper too, for the kind of ammo you can produce.

 

I could but dont bother with shotty ammo as its not worth my time to do it.

[njc110381]

I reload rifle ammo. It can save money if you shoot a lot but the cost of set up means you have to get through a lot of rounds. I reload for accuracy. The best factory load will never come close to a home load unless you are really lucky. A rifle that will group 1.5" at 100 with factory will more than likely do .75 or better with a custom load.

[Warlock]

Benefit of home loading is also that i used to have a .44 rifle, which is a pistol calibre, as i used to shoot only target you could make a light load then shoot it on a 25 metre range then produce full loads for days at the army range.

[macca]

I reload for three reasons. One is the substantial savings one can make. Two, I can tune loads to the rifle for greater accuracy and three, I shoot some cartidges that you cant buy factory loads for.

Cheers

[sealine]

i have just started to get into reloading carts, i know i will not save much if any money, but since looking into the world of carts and the make-up has given me a wealth of info, and i will be able to make the cart that i like and the joy of using it.

[Shabbyshot]

Thanks for that lads.

[mudpatten]

I do a lot of wildfowling and can load non toxic shot, especially steel, to much higher velocities, although still safe to use, than the law permits cartridge manufacturers to produce.

[mudpatten]

Fister,

 

Sorry mate, but it would appear that you may not be involved in the homeloading of non toxic shot. It`s a complex subject and would take too long to explain in detail here.

 

Very briefly, the CIP regulations for factory loaded steel shot are quite restrictive and it is only in recent years with the development of new types of powder that the performance of factory loaded steel cartridges has reached an acceptable level.

 

With SUITABLY PROOFED GUNS and TESTED LOADING FORMULAE it is perfectly possible to load outside the CIP restrictions, but WITHIN THE GUNS PROOF PRESSURES, to produce very effective steel loads.

 

Thousands of wildfowlers do this with complete safety.

 

I was certainly not advocating loading random and excessive quantities of powder and shot and then just hoping that the gun would`nt blow up!

[Warlock]

Ahhhhh memories flooding back of when we used to make our own blunderbuss`s as kids lol.

[Devilishdave]

I guess it is a bit like fly tieing, there is a massive sence of satisfaction when you get that nice buck with a load you have developed to give the effects you want.

 

Dave

[mudpatten]

In order to best answer that question might I suggest that you telephone BASC and speak to Dr. John Harradine who will explain the whole thing more succinctly than I can.

 

It really is very complex technically.

 

You might also have a look at the Clay Game Reloaders website which will confirm that loading non toxic cartridges is a popular, and safe, way of producing effective non lead cartridges.

[mudpatten]

No mate, I don`t get a Darwin award, and you remain ignorant.

[stirky]

Same as mudpatten, i can load non toxic shot (steel/hevi/bismuth) to published data, to produce faster loads than you can purchase from over the counter.

With steel its speed that kills at greater distances, so you try to produce a load of 1500fps that will still keep your pattern together.

Factory loads will be in the 1200fps range, (cip rules) with it going slow the penetration drops off quicker.

All loads are repeated from loading manuals of tested data.

I also reload for my rifles, it produces better group size and you get more versitility on which bullet you want to shoot,

my .223 has a 1-9 twist barrel, my most accurate load is with a 75gn bullet,

i dont think you can buy factory loads with a 75gn ballistic tip, so i load my own.

[mikee]

But why dont the manufacturers do it?

 

unfortunately manufacturers are limited by the government through the CIP regulations, in real terms this means not faster than 1400fps, strangely though it didnt apply to all bores, it may do now though. only 12b originally.

 

super fast home loaded steel are better than lead IMO, stuff shot with steel shot with a MV of over 16-1800fps stays dead, much less runners than with lead shot loads, ive developed 10g loads of "T" steel doing upper 1600's 3" #1 steel 12b loads doing 1625 fps and a 1oz 23/4" load of#3 doing 1800fps, you could never buy shells like these, all are well within safe pressure limits, none of them produce over 900mp

 

mikee

Edited March 26, 2009 by mikee

[stirky]

:blink: mikee

[mikee]

if you scroll down to the section headed "a reminder" the reason for the cip regulations is explained

 

http://www.chircuprodimpex.ro/produse/alic...-ammunition.pdf

 

mikee

[Floating Chamber]

For me it's in the blood! Father, cousins, uncles, were reloading many years ago. I started reloading in 1962, after tuition from a much admired older cousin who had been a homeloader from the 1940s.

It's a passion! Fascinating.

FC